Traffic Shaping for UE Power Saving in Idle Mode
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current LTE/LTE-A systems face inefficiencies in UE power saving and network signaling due to frequent RRC state transitions, especially with delay-tolerant and background traffic, leading to reduced system capacity and shortened UE battery life.
Innovation Solution
A traffic shaping mechanism that allows UE to buffer and aggregate uplink packets in RRC Idle mode, entering RRC Connected mode only when specific triggering conditions are met, such as buffer fullness, periodicity, delay bounds, channel quality, or UE speed thresholds, to reduce unnecessary RRC transitions and signaling overhead.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If UE frequently transitions to RRC Connected mode for background traffic, then data transmission is ensured, but power consumption increases and battery life decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The network performs preliminary actions by establishing a default bearer and pre-configuring QoS parameters, traffic shaping rules, and buffer resources before background traffic arrives. This allows the UE to remain in RRC Idle mode while the network prepares to handle the traffic efficiently, reducing the need for frequent RRC state transitions and lowering power consumption.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces an intermediary mechanism where the network side (eNB/MME) acts as a mediator by maintaining UE context and buffer resources during RRC Idle mode. The network can buffer incoming data and manage traffic shaping without requiring the UE to be in Connected mode, thus reducing power consumption while ensuring reliable data transmission when needed.
2Reliability
If UE transitions to RRC Connected mode for each data packet, then transmission reliability is improved, but signaling overhead increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges multiple data packets and signaling operations into a single RRC Connected mode transition. By implementing traffic shaping and buffering at the network side, multiple small data transmissions are aggregated and sent together in one Connected mode session, significantly reducing the number of RRC state transitions and associated signaling overhead while maintaining transmission reliability.
Solution Approach 2:
The network performs preliminary configuration of bearers, QoS parameters, and traffic shaping rules before data transmission begins. This preliminary setup allows subsequent data packets to be transmitted efficiently without requiring repeated RRC connection establishment and configuration signaling, thereby reducing signaling overhead while ensuring reliable transmission.
3Reliability
If network keeps all UEs in RRC Connected mode, then seamless data transmission is ensured, but network loading and resource consumption increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements dynamic RRC state management where the UE's RRC state (Idle or Connected) is dynamically adjusted based on traffic characteristics, QoS requirements, and network conditions. For background traffic with relaxed QoS, the UE can remain in Idle mode with network-side buffering, while seamless transmission is ensured for urgent traffic by transitioning to Connected mode only when necessary. This dynamic approach reduces network loading while maintaining transmission reliability.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies different quality levels of service to different traffic types. For background traffic, a lower quality mode (RRC Idle with network buffering) is used, while for foreground or urgent traffic, a higher quality mode (RRC Connected) is activated. This local quality differentiation allows the network to maintain seamless transmission for critical services while reducing overall network loading through efficient idle mode handling of non-critical traffic.
Data Source
AI summary
A method of uplink shaping and extending UE in RRC Idle Mode is proposed. The UE processes a data packet to be sent to the network. The data packet is associated with a traffic type. If the data packet belongs to a normal traffic type, then the UE enters RRC Connected mode and thereby transmitting the data packet to the network. If the data packet belongs to a background traffic type, then the UE buffers the data packet and the UE is prohibited from entering RRC Connected mode until a triggering condition is satisfied for uplink transmission. The proposed mechanism achieves power saving by reducing the activity of uplink transmission. In addition, the proposed mechanism also reduces signaling overhead to enhance network efficiency.